Nearly 1.6 million pounds flows annually from our paperboard mill at Workington to the local farming community”, says Ulf Löfgren, Managing Director for the mill. In January 2019 the project was given the Rushlight Bioenergy Award.

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[Cohoes, NY — April 22, 2020] On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc., North America's largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes, and specialty materials for printing, is unveiling a paradigm-shifting portfolio of papers made with hemp, straw, and recycled cotton fiber.

Mohawk's world-class engineers have devised a process that allows the mill to continue to create the beautiful, high-performance sheets Mohawk is renowned for using rapidly renewable resources. The fibers Mohawk has chosen for its groundbreaking line are all annual crops, which regenerate in a year or less. By using scraps that would've otherwise been disposed of, we're reducing waste and pollution while creating something beautiful.

"The introduction of Mohawk Renewal represents a new chapter in our environmental story," said Chris Harrold, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Mohawk. "We see this as a journey of a thousand steps, and with each step, we make progress toward a more sustainable future."

Always an industry leader in responsible papermaking and energy use, Mohawk was among the first paper companies to experiment with post-consumer recycled fibers in the 1990's. In the 2000's, we embraced responsible virgin fiber sourcing, obtained Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification and became first in our industry to use renewable wind power. Mohawk Renewal grew from a desire to redefine the contours of fiber sourcing by rediscovering legacy materials like hemp, straw, and cotton rag—in essence, looking to the papermaking methods of the past to chart a more sustainable future for the industry.

"Mohawk Renewal is an expression of our ongoing commitment to environmental leadership in our industry and our community," said Melissa Stevens, Chief Revenue Officer at Mohawk. "In developing this portfolio, we have embraced new technology, new supply chains, and new uses for raw materials. We're proud to take on the risks and challenges of being the first to bring truly sustainable fine paper to market."

The Mohawk Renewal portfolio includes: Hemp Hemp fiber was an agricultural staple in Colonial America, used extensively in the manufacture of fabric, rope, and paper. Then it was outlawed in the 1930's. Today, depression-era laws have been rolled back and the CBD and cannabis industries are growing rapidly—which means hemp farming is, too. But the infrastructure for its processing is still in its infancy. By driving demand for hemp fiber production, Mohawk is playing a leading role in helping this exceptional material take hold as an everyday resource once again. Our friends in the CBD and cannabis packaging industries have already demonstrated that they are ready to embrace hemp-based papers as a way to amplify their brand messaging and express a commitment to sustainability.

Straw

Straw is a byproduct of wheat farming that is typically disposed of as waste. Every year, thousands of acres of this rapidly renewable fiber are either burned off or plowed under, contributing to CO2 emission and soil erosion.

Now, that impact is being mitigated by harvesting straw for paper pulp. Mohawk Renewal Straw is made using straw fiber harvested by Columbia Pulp in Eastern Washington, where they have built a new mill to process straw fibers into viable paper pulp. Blended with responsibly sourced wood fibers, Renewal Straw has been engineered to perform on every press platform Mohawk serves today, from letterpress to digital and offset.

Each sheet of Mohawk Renewal Straw tells an origin story. Both Harvest White and Wheat shades take their cue from the 30 percent straw fibers used in each sheet. With subtle fiber inclusions, these papers are unique in the market.

Mohawk Renewal Straw is available in:

One White: Harvest White

One Color: Wheat, a golden straw shade

Three Weights: 80 Text, 120 Cover, and 140 Cover

Smooth and Rough finishes

Digital and Offset compatible

Envelopes in A2 and A7 sizes

Recycled Cotton

Cotton textiles have been recycled to make paper for centuries—in fact, it was the primary paper technology before wood pulp took over. Strong yet soft, cotton fibers make beautiful paper. Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton uses two sources for its cotton fiber: white t-shirts and blue denim. By making the most of these waste materials as a new pulp source, Mohawk is taking pressure off landfills while making fine paper with a story.

Both shades of Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton are a direct reflection of their input materials. T-Shirt White is unbleached white and pure cotton textile waste, while Denim is made from 30 percent denim thread and 70 percent cotton t-shirt textile.

More announcements about Mohawk Renewal products and samples will be made throughout the year. You can sign up to receive Mohawk updates here.

ABOUT MOHAWK

Mohawk is North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are preferred for commercial and digital printing, social stationery and high-end direct mail. Mohawk fine papers and envelopes include the signature brands Mohawk Superfine® and Strathmore®, as well as proprietary treatments Inxwell® and i-Tone®. With a culture of innovation reaching back to its beginning in 1931, Mohawk is committed to providing materials that help make every printed project more beautiful, effective and memorable.

As a leader in environmentally and socially responsible business practices, Mohawk was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100% of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production. Many of Mohawk's recycled and virgin papers are certified by Green Seal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Mohawk is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business based in Cohoes, New York, with global sales and operations located throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit mohawkconnects.com.